World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, is marked on May 18. It’s a day to raise awareness about the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS and the importance of developing a vaccine. It recognises researchers, volunteers, and healthcare workers dedicated to developing a vaccine. The day marks the anniversary of a 1997 speech by US President Bill Clinton highlighting the importance of an HIV vaccine.
What Is AIDS?
AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a serious condition which is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus attacks the body’s immune system targeting CD4 cells which are crucial in fighting infections and diseases. AIDS is diagnosed when a person with HIV has a severely compromised immune system indicated by a low CD4 cell count. It can become life-threatening when left untreated.
Causes And Symptoms
HIV could transmit through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse and sharing needles or syringes contaminated with HIV-infected blood. It can also be transmitted from an HIV-infected mother to a child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
The symptoms include fever, joint pain, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, enlarged glands, sweating (particularly at night), red rashes on the body, and fatigue.
World AIDS Vaccine Day History
World AIDS Vaccine Day, initiated by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) in 1998, commemorates the then United States President Bill Clinton’s call to action for an HIV vaccine. His speech at Morgan State University in 1997 highlighted the urgency to develop a vaccine for AIDS.
World AIDS Vaccine Day Significance
World AIDS Vaccine Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the critical need for HIV vaccine research. On this day, people across the globe pay their tribute to the millions who have lost their lives to AIDS, highlighting the adverse impact of the disease globally. World AIDS Vaccine Day also provides an opportunity for education and debunking myths surrounding HIV/AIDS.
World AIDS Vaccine Day 2024 Quotes
- “Everyone can make a real difference. Your voice is needed in a global movement that can change your world.” -Pierce Brosnan
- “Give a child love, laughter, and peace, not AIDS.” – Nelson Mandela
- “AIDS is a disease that is hard to talk about.” – Bill Gates
- “We must encourage people to get educated, to get tested, to get involved in the fight against AIDS.” – Gwen Moore.
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